Baboon-only sanctuary in Indiana a first of its kind

One of the first five baboon residents that settled in at Peaceable Primate Sanctuary in Winamac, Ind., earlier this month.

One of the first five baboon residents that settled in at Peaceable Primate Sanctuary in Winamac, Ind., earlier this month. (Peaceable Primate Sanctuary)

Joanne Yj KimChicago Tribune

It's been a long time coming. Peaceable Primate Sanctuary welcomed its first five baboon residents this year after a more than decadelong quest to provide housing for primates that are no longer wanted or needed by research facilities, zoos and other places.

The inspiration to build the baboon-only sanctuary sparked when Scott Kublisch, president, director and founder of the sanctuary, recognized the need for better facilities to house retired baboons. The animals are commonly used in biomedical research, and some are held privately as pets, and used for entertainment. Kublisch, who for 22 years worked as a roving animal keeper at Lincoln Park Zoo, sought a way to take action, to protect the primates.

The project slowly but surely came to fruition when, in 2002, 39 acres of land was purchased to build housing for the primates. Through private donations and a series of efforts, the sanctuary has now expanded to 80 acres.

The sanctuary, in Winamac, Ind., is the first place in North America that specializes in protecting baboons only. The sanctuary refers to itself as "a nonprofit retirement home for baboons that are retired from research facilities, roadside zoos or the pet industry."

The three female baboons, Violet, Periwinkle and Juniper, settled in May 24 as the sanctuary's first group of residents, followed by two male baboons, AJ and Jerry, retirees from a research center, who arrived June 9.

"It was good to have the female baboons bond first before the male baboons came in," Kublisch said. He says the friendship built among Violet, Periwinkle and Juniper allows them to protect each other if the male baboons act rough at times. All five baboons are olive baboons, a species commonly found in African safaris.

The sanctuary already has a plan in place to welcome more baboons this month. As of now, the sanctuary is not open to the public but hopes to host events and fundraisers in the future so that the public can come and meet the baboons.

Photographs of the five baboon residents can be found on the Peaceable Primate Sanctuary's Facebook and Instagram pages.